International Network on African Energy Transition

The Third International Network on African Energy Transition (INAET) Conference took place in Abidjan from June 11–12, 2026, bringing together global energy leaders to discuss solutions for advancing a just, inclusive, and investment-oriented energy transition across the continent.

INAET is an international multi-stakeholder network promoted by Eni and the Luiss School of Government in Rome, in partnership with the World Bank Group, including the Institute for Economic Development and the International Finance Corporation, reflecting collaboration across the institution in support of Africa's energy transition and development priorities.

At the conference, the session on Powering Possibility: Accelerating Africa's Energy Access explored workable solutions to boost electricity access across the continent, including the use of natural gas as a critical enabler of reliable and scalable electricity. The session focused on the Mission 300 initiative, an initiative launched by the World Bank Group and the AfDB to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. 

The Institute for Economic Development co-organized the session From Metter to Matters to discuss the development of a structured Energy Data Alliance built on secure, jointly governed data-sharing agreements with utilities, regulators, and research partners to unluck better regulation, investment, and service delivery in the continent.

“Ambition alone will not power Africa - evidence will. Africa's utilities sit on some of the continent's most valuable operational data, yet it remains largely untapped for strategic decisions. The Institute for Economic Development is here to change that. In Abidjan, we are proposing a trusted data partnership that turns rigorous research into practical knowledge for utilities, regulators, and investors - accelerating energy access, unlocking private investment, and creating the quality jobs that are at the heart of the Mission 300 initiative,” said Gero Carletto, Head of the Rome Center, World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development.

The conference also hosted a side event in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), strengthening INAET’s collaboration with key multilateral players.

The two-day conference in Abidjan featured keynote speeches, high-level dialogues, and panel discussions aimed at generating actionable insights and policy recommendations to support Africa’s long-term development goals.